Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean journalist Jeffrey Moyo is denied bail on the basis that he “poses a flight risk and is a threat to national security”.

Although Zimbabwe has implemented a raft of new legislation that create a partially media friendly environment, the harassment of journalists and threats of surveillance are a major cause of concern.

The right to privacy in Zimbabwe is increasingly under threat following remarks by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the government had managed to track the locations of certain individuals and their communication details.

The regional coalition Africa Freedom of Expression Exchangen has called on the Zimbabwean government to immediately drop charges against Chin’ono and ensure an enabling environment for journalists to work in.

Human rights groups worldwide highlight that the bill in its current form does not meet international standards on protecting privacy and personal data

Diverse, free and independent media is under severe threat as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the financial viability of media outlets in the region.

Zimbabwean journalists Frank Chikowore and Samuel Takawira were detained, arrested and charged on the pretext of flouting COVID-19 lockdown regulations while investigating violence against three opposition activists.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) commemoration of IDEI with Zimbabwean partners and stakeholders focused on “Journalists’ Security for Free, Open and Informed Societies”.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is supporting the Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) in condemning the spate of attacks on journalists in recent weeks.

IFEX members are calling for changes to Zimbabwe’s recently gazetted Freedom of Information Bill to bring it in line with Zimbabwe’s constitution and international human rights standards.

MISA-Zimbabwe is asking governments preparing to hold elections in the SADC region to ensure access to information and guarantee safety of journalists.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers intentionally shot three teargas canisters into the offices of a local media organisation in Harare and then barricaded the doors preventing staff from exiting.

MISA Zimbabwe’s recently published 2018 State of the Media report is now available online.

Misdiagnoses, missed operations, and the odd joke; Zimbabweans share how losing the internet affected them.

Governments are shutting down the internet while using brute force to silence their citizens.

AFEX denounces in particular, the use of lethal force against protesters resulting in the alleged killing of at least five persons with several reported injuries. AFEX has also received reports of arbitrary arrest and detention of protesters.